Vita Christi

Lugduni [Lyon]: Coimpressa Sumptibus honorat. vir. Jacobi. q. Francisci de Giunta Florentini, 4 May 1536. Leather Bound. Very Good +. 6 x 8 1/4 inches. Begins at t(cross)ii, otherwise collates as complete compared with Registrum on last page. First page with large woodcut and printed in red and black. Some light dampstains to lower margins and last four to five lines of text. Printed in two column black letter. With numerous decorated initial capitals and miniatures. Occasional old ink in margins. Title and author in ink to foreedge. Two brands to top edge (an "S" and an "F" with a small circle on to horizontal line of the "F"). Bound in old brown calf over wooden boards, with darkened geometrical designs possibly made with heated instruments. Brass catches, clasps and corners, with brass clasps renewed. Professionally rebacked to style with four large raised bands. Provenance: Convent in Arequipa, Peru, title page excised during the 1884 war with Chile. Although virtually unknown to English speakers, Ludolph's Vita Christi was an extremely popular devotional work that was widely read during the fifteenth century, and which influenced St. Ignatius Loyola during his recuperation (1521-22), the influence of which may be seen in the similar structure, imagery and themes of his Spiritual Exercises. The miniatures provide valuable period detail and information (e.g., vestments and clothing, clerical and secular headgear, a rosary, hairstyles including tonsures) others are interesting for their theological information (e.g., a horned devil, the church as an ark). A very good copy of this rare work.